The man who pleaded guilty in connection with the slaying of a Darien family spent most of Friday under cross examination.
Jacob Nodarse pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the death of Jeffrey Kramer as part of a plea deal, and charges for the other two murders were dropped. Johnny Borizov is accused of persuading Nodarse to kill Kramer, his wife, Lori, and their son, Michael, 20, at the family's Darien home in 2010.
Friday's testimony started dramatically with defense attorney Richard Kling showing Nodarse crime scene photos of each victim and asking him if he was the one who did it. Nodarse calmly looked at each photo and admitted to the crimes.
Kling also produced the gun used in the crimes, which Nordose held so casually on the stand that courtroom observers had to be reminded it was not loaded.
Nodarse's demeanor ranged from impatience and even laughter when a 911 tape was played, to a relaxed demeanor that prompted this exchange:
Kling: Are you bored Jake?
Nodarse: No, I am bored a lot in jail, this is kind of exciting for me.
Kling: Are you saying that your involvement in a murder trial in which you killed three people is exciting for you?
Nodarse: In the sense that every day I stare at a concrete wall for three years, it's something out of the ordinary. I am not enjoying it, but it passes the time better.
Defense attorneys argue that Nodarse carried out the shooting on his own, but DuPage County prosecutors contend that Borizov pressured Nodarse into attacking his ex-girlfriend in the midst of their bitter child custody battle.
The trial is the first in the Chicago area to allow cameras in court during testimony, although there will be 10 witnesses cameras won't be able to shoot. They also can't capture jurors' faces.
